Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation Research Project Professor Jack Dougherty

1. Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation Research Project Professor Jack Dougherty and students from the Educ 308: Cities Suburbs & Schools Seminar at Trinity College http://www.trincoll.edu/depts/educ/css November 9, 2005 (Updated April 2006)

2. Educ 308: Cities, Suburbs & Schools • Weekly three-hour seminar • Objectives: • Read noteworthy studies and test authors’ claims by conducting similar research projects with Hartford community partners on topics of mutual interest • Develop students’ quantitative and qualitative skills through team research projects, prior to independent research in senior year

3. Research study: Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation • Announced July 2005, a privately-funded school choice program designed to increase college attendance rate for Hartford high school students • Pledges from 17 independent college prep schools for $11 million in scholarships and financial aid to be phased in over 4 years • Approx 200 Hartford students enrolled under partnership --Courant July 22, 2005

4. Research study: Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation Research Question: Who applies to independent preparatory schools via the Mayor’s program, and what are their motivations?

5. Research study: Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation Designed interview guide, with IRB approval, in cooperation with Mayor Perez’s HYSF open house event in October 2005

6. Research study: Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation Conducted 51 usable interviews with parents/guardians at event - does not include all participants at open house - does not necessarily represent the entire pool of applicants Transcribed interviews and coded them into thematic categories

7. Research study: Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation Demographic summary of interview pool: Although promoted as a “Hartford” program, 1/3 of children of interview participants live outside of the city limits

8. Research study: Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation Demographic summary of interview pool: Parents of Black children were more likely than expected to be represented, compared to the region and to HPS enrollment

9. Research study: Hartford Youth Scholars Foundation Demographic summary of interview pool: Parents in sample are more highly educated than expected Parents in sample also are more likely to have children currently enrolled in another “choice” school (such as a magnet), but are often unsatisfied and are striving to “climb” up to private schools One parent: “The independent schools will get the student to the best school that they can attend based on their academics . . . The magnet schools at this point don’t have that reputation.”

10. For additional findings, email: jack.dougherty@trincoll.edu